liuzhou

No doubt you have been reading or hearing about the severe lockdowns in Shanghai. I have no intention of getting into the politics behind what is being reported, but I will say there have been some wild inaccuracies. I'm in near-daily content with friends in Shanghai who are telling a somewhat different story. I'm told that although no one likes them, most people acccept the need for the lockdowns. What they are complaining about is the shortage of food. They have received food supplies from the government, but they have been irregular and meagre. Four such deliveries since April 1st. April 1st April 5th April 13th May 2nd Each household gets this, irrespective of number of residents. It is used to supplement what little is available in the markets. This morning a friend in Shanghai informs me that as of last night, they can now buy from a limited selection of 200 items for delivery via this organisation. She is delighted as she can buy what she wants instead of what she is sent without choice. Her first choice was potato crisps/chips for her 12 year old daughter! Then some flour, yeast and baking powder. And she got some toilet paper! Heaven. I have felt frustrated because I can buy anything - no shortages here - and wanted to send her stuff, but it just wouldn't arrive. Deliveries aren't being made. My big worry now is that I am running low on my favourite imported, canned Portuguese sardines. I ordered some weeks ago, but they are stuck in Shanghai! But I can't really complain, can I?

This arrived this morning. I ordered ten packs of smoked sturgeon online. Eleven turned up! Bonus. Ten are in freezer; one is in me. Perfect straight from the pack. Better with a little of its own caviar.

Right next door to my apartment is 5-star hotel complete with a number of restaurants. The main banqueting restaurant does an amazing roast suckling pig. Of course, I don't eat banquets every day or even every month so I don't get it that often. But I do smell them cooking. Torture! As to lamb, the best I've ever eaten was Gower Salt Marsh Lamb from Wales. To die for.

This one of the aprons I never wear. It was a gift. The Chinese means "Kitchen God". Flattery will get you fed!

And more here.

I think it may be hereditary. My father was the same, but my mother was capable of getting lost just trying to get out of bed! She certainly couldn't find her way around a kitchen!

I am one of those people (and they are thousands of us if not millions) who always know where north is, which means where every other compass point is. Blindfold me, drive me for days to somewhere I've never been, spin me around until I'm dizzy and ask me to point to the north and I do it every time. I don't know how. What bugs me is not so much colour. Yeah, white text on yellow is just stupid but it's not really about colour. It's about contrast. And online restaurant menus are among the worst! At least in the EU and I think still the UK there is legislation to ensure website are visually accessible. I am not sure how well that is enforced, however.

Some stunning images from the international food photo contest - via the BBC.

Liuzhou Luosifen

Perhaps an odd choice for breakfast. No apologies. Simple bucatini with homemade pesto.

Yeah, definitely saltwater fish.

Hmmm. If you do look in the Asian market, you want 糙米(cāo mǐ). It is used for porridge making, often mixed with other grains and not often served as rice accompanying other dishes. This means that in my local supermarkets it is found with the other porridge grains and not with the regular rice. Asian markets may be the same. Brown rice also comes in two types - glutinous (糯米 (nuò mǐ), 粘米 or 黏米 (nián mǐ)) and non-glutinous. I hope this is helpful and not even more confusing.

Probably related, yes, but with so many (>30) fish known as mackerel, which species remains a mystery.

I'm going to throw this into the mix, but I have no idea what they are. They were labelled as 根子鱼 (gēn zǐ yú) which means 'stickleback' or 'minnow', which these clearly aren't. They are about 8 inches / 20 cm long. Maybe mutant minnows!

I'm not much of a cake fan, especially here in China, but these are rather tasty. 红枣&核桃蛋糕 (hóng zǎo hé tao dàn gāo). Chinese date (jujube) and walnut cake. The top is normally a bit darker, but it always sticks to the box it comes in. Never mind - still tastes great. (You can see a fragment of the original top on the right.)

exactly!

There are certain ultracrepidarians who would deny that this is a proper dinner. Conspiracy theorists the lot of them. 小笼包 (xiǎo lóng bāo)

I suppose because they are what I've always used and they do hold their heat better. They're thermally more efficient, but need more care.

Haha! Of course 36 cm. Have edited. That said, I have seen 36 inch and much larger woks. But not at home!

I mentioned elsewhere on eG that my faithful assistant in the kitchen, my wok had passed away. I bought a new one, of course. A 36cm uncoated, round-bottomed, handmade, cast iron chap, but recent personal attention has had to be paid to certain bureaucratic affairs with the Chinese government regarding my business have kept me busy recently. That has now been resolved and it's time to move on to dealing with new wok. It needs deep cleaning to remove the machine oil it is coated in both inside and out then carefully seasoned before being put into service. But it's more complex. A 36cm wok is too large for my everyday needs. I live alone. Also, I can't use a round-bottomed wok on a stand alone induction cooker which I sometimes require, so I also bought a 34cm flat bottomed fellow for those needs. It too is cast iron and non-coated. It too needs the same attention. So the next couple of days, I'm going to be having fun dealing with that.

If you can find the leafy tops, they are delicious. Very popular, they are sold seperately from the gourd here. Simply stir fried with garlic.

Yeah I know they are dried, but yours are mummified! Dried peppers lose flavor and potency, too! They just take longer. 8 months; not 50 years!

They lose flavour and potency over time. I buy my dried chilies in small amounts (50 gram packs) and use them within a month max. Eight months would really be stretching it. Here is a bag of facing heaven chillis I bought an hour ago. ¥2.80 = 43 cents US. 1970s? Are you serious?

It's only 8 months since you asked me before - I thought it was longer. They may still be OK, but I'd use them soon!